Got the bus this morning with Maddie and Caroline - 2 Australian girls - to do the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek. We arrived at the starting point at 10:30 and immediately started the walk. About 2 hours later we reached the Naxi Tea House where we stopped to rest and have some lunch before tackling the hardest part of the trek - the 28 bends. This is actually more than 28 bends all on an upward climb. About halfway up we came to a small stall selling refreshments and ghanga - to help you on your way!! The scenery along the gorge was beautiful - snow peaked mountains, small villages and dramatic drops down to the gorge. We arrived at our first nights accomodation - the Tea Horse at 5:30. It was very basic accomodation - just a room with beds made from stall joined together by planks of wood and a mattress on top - but the people were very welcoming. The toilets were a trough running through exposed cubicles and the shower was a hose attached to a tap - not quite what you want after a tiring trek but we knew this was the best we could get! The highlight of the place was the food and we had a huge dinner. Whilst eating dinner I was surprised to see 2 people I knew - Jana and Philip - from the teaching course arrive! Caught up with them and had an early night.